No Charges Brought in Graffiti Artist Taser Death, Family Files Suit

Posted on Jul 24, 2015

A Miami Beach police officer connected to the death of graffiti artist
Israel “Reefa” Hernandez-Llach won’t face any charges,
news sources report. Under state law, Taser guns are “non-lethal”
weapons, making Hernandez-Llach’s death an accident instead of murder
or manslaughter.

Katherine Fernandez Rundle, a Miami state attorney, announced the decision
this week after two years of investigation.

She said, “After the medical examiner determined that Israel Hernandez-Llach’s
death was accidental, it left little legal room to pursue any possible
criminal charges.” She also said, according to investigations, no
one involved in the incident anticipated the serious injury or death of
Hernandez-Llach.

Victims’ Family to File Suit Against Taser International Inc.

In the wake of Hernandez-Llach’s death, family members and friends
protested against police tactics. Although unhappy with the decision,
they will now focus on creating awareness about the dangers of Taser use.

Todd Falzone of Kelley/Uustal, who represents the family, said he intends
to file suit against Taser International Inc., the company responsible
for the weapon that killed Hernandez-Llach.

Taser is already named in another lawsuit – one that targets Miami
Beach Police.

Falzone told news sources, “We honestly believe this weapon is a
lethal weapon. It should be treated as a lethal weapon, and we’re
going to do everything we can to ensure the public is protected from this
device.”